Reflection Or Scattering Of Acoustic Waves Patents (Class 73/861.25)
-
Patent number: 8689638Abstract: An ultrasonic flow sensor comprises a flow cell body with an inlet on one side and an outlet on the other side through which the liquid or gaseous media flows; an inner flow conduit with rough surface which not only decreases the flow transition point from turbulence regime to laminar regime but also suppresses the parasitic multi-mode ultrasonic waves; one pair of electro-ultrasonic transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals; one pair of ultrasonic wave reflecting mirrors for guiding ultrasonic waves from one transducer to the other; and two reflecting mirror support fixtures which set the position and orientation of the ultrasonic wave reflecting mirrors in such a way that their disturbance to the flow inside the inner flow conduit is minimized while the ultrasonic signal strength is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Spire Metering Technology LLCInventor: Chang Shen
-
Patent number: 8684933Abstract: A portable ultrasound imaging system employs a mechanically focused multi-element circular annular transducer that is mechanically scanned using a motor. Received echoes are processed to form two dimensional gray scale B mode images or two dimensional color tissue flow images which are displayed on a display unit. In case of color flow imaging, a high pulse repetition frequency imaging sequence is employed for a reasonable frame rate and special down-sampling techniques are applied to achieve an effective low pulse repetition frequency for flow estimation with enough signal to noise ratio. The system also includes a docking subsystem which charges a system battery and transfers patient and image data between a PACS system, workstation or other information system and the portable ultrasound imaging system.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: ImSonic Medical, Inc.Inventors: Xiaohui Hao, Donald J. Nisler
-
Publication number: 20130333483Abstract: Dynamic characteristics of a liquid surface (160) are measured by sending acoustic signals (140) to or more target areas (162a-162c) on the liquid surface and receiving said acoustic signals (150a-150c) after reflection from the target area. The detected signals are processed to measure phase shift between the sent and received acoustic signals, the measured phase shift varying over time. The varying phase shift is used to indicate fluctuations over time in the local height of the liquid surface in the target area. The liquid may be water, effluent etc. flowing in a channel or conduit. With suitable calibration, the measured height fluctuations can be used to infer flow characteristics such as surface roughness, wave height, flow depth, flow velocity, volumetric flow rate, shear stress, sediment transport. Using an array of receivers and target areas, additional spatial and temporal characteristics of the surface and the flow can be measured.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: University of BradfordInventors: Kirill Horoshenkov, Andrew Nichols
-
Publication number: 20130264142Abstract: A coupling element of an ultrasonic transducer suitable for mode conversion of an acoustic longitudinal wave between an in-coupling surface and an out-coupling surface of the coupling element. The coupling element has a first and second interface with a predetermined medium. A first angle between the in-coupling surface and the first interface and a second angle between the first interface and the out-coupling surface are so selected that a transverse waves fraction is reflected on the first interface to the out-coupling surface. The first angle between the in-coupling surface and the first interface and a third angle between the first interface and the second interface are so selected that a longitudinal wave fraction is reflected on the first interface for second interface. A fraction of the longitudinal waves reflected to the second interface is reflected on the second interface back into the coupling element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2011Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: ENDRESS & HAUSER FLOWTEC AGInventors: Beat Kissling, Quirin Muller
-
Patent number: 8516901Abstract: The present invention relates to a measurement insert for a flow meter and a flow meter. The present invention discloses using, in a customary housing of a bulk water meter, e.g. a Woltman meter, instead of a device for mechanical flow measurement a measurement insert which comprises an ultrasonic measurement path and can be fastened to the opening of the housing by a housing cover.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2010Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Hydrometer GmbHInventors: Harald Kroemer, Wilhelm Öfelein
-
Publication number: 20130180342Abstract: An ultrasonic flow sensor comprises a flow cell body with an inlet on one side and an outlet on the other side through which the liquid or gaseous media flows; an inner flow conduit with rough surface which not only decreases the flow transition point from turbulence regime to laminar regime but also suppresses the parasitic multi-mode ultrasonic waves; one pair of electro-ultrasonic transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals; one pair of ultrasonic wave reflecting mirrors for guiding ultrasonic waves from one transducer to the other; and two reflecting mirror support fixtures which set the position and orientation of the ultrasonic wave reflecting mirrors in such a way that their disturbance to the flow inside the inner flow conduit is minimized while the ultrasonic signal strength is maintained.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2012Publication date: July 18, 2013Applicant: Spire Metering Technology LLCInventor: Chang Shen
-
Patent number: 8480590Abstract: Some embodiments include acquisition of color Doppler data, and detection of one or more transitions of the color Doppler data, each of the one or more transitions being between a first area representing flow velocity in a first direction and a second area representing flow velocity not in the first direction. A normalized energy function across one or more of the one or more transitions is calculated, a configuration of flow areas within the color Doppler data is determined, and aliasing corrections for the color Doppler data are determined based on the normalized energy functions and the configuration of flow areas.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2010Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd.Inventor: Tadashi Tamura
-
Patent number: 8456955Abstract: A housing for a phased array monostatic sodar system with a transducer array that sequentially emits and receives a set of sound beams along different primary axes. The housing includes an enclosure having a plurality of sidewalls, each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls having an inner surface, the enclosure configured to emit and receive the set of sound beams. Each inner surface of each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls defines at least a partially elliptical cross-section configured to substantially envelop at least a portion of an angled, conical sound beam of the set of sound beams.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2012Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Second Wind Systems, Inc.Inventors: Niels LaWhite, Louis Manfredi, Walter L. Sass
-
Publication number: 20130104667Abstract: An ultrasonic flow rate measuring device which measures a flow rate of a medium flowing in the tube body, when one of a plurality of the ultrasonic transmitting-receiving means transmit an ultrasonic wave as a transmitting means, by making another one of a plurality of the ultrasonic transmitting-receiving means receive the ultrasonic wave as a receiving means, and when the other ultrasonic transmitting-receiving means transmit the ultrasonic wave as the transmitting means, by making the one ultrasonic transmitting-receiving means receive the ultrasonic wave as the receiving means, wherein an ultrasonic wave propagation control means which controls a propagation of the ultrasonic wave is equipped between the ultrasonic transmitting-receiving means as the transmitting means and the receiving means. Further, the ultrasonic flow rate measuring device is easily mounted to a tube body.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2012Publication date: May 2, 2013Applicant: KABUSHIKIGAISHA IZUMI GIKENInventor: Kabushikigaisha Izumi Giken
-
Publication number: 20130080081Abstract: A fluid flow meter estimates the velocity of water or another fluid flowing through pipe by comparing measurements of the water velocity to one or more pre-determined templates. The fluid flow meter may collect measurement signals from one or more flow sensors (e.g., ultrasonic transducers), estimate the fluid velocity or flow rate by comparing the measurement signals to the template(s), and either store the comparison results in local memory, transmit the results to a remote memory or server, or both. In some embodiments, the fluid flow meter transmits the results to a server via a wireless interface (e.g., a Zigbee, Bluetooth, or Wi-fi interface). The transducers and processing system can be powered by a battery, a power line, or, for manifolds installed outdoors, a solar cell. Example transducers and processing systems may also have a passive wake-up feature for power reduction; that is, they may only draw power when water or another fluid flows through the pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2012Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: Soneter, LLCInventor: Soneter, LLC
-
Patent number: 8402840Abstract: A device for sensing fluid flow within a pipe, which pipe has a pipe wall, is provided. The device includes a sensor housing and a fluid flow meter. The sensor housing includes at least one pressure vessel enclosure and hardware for mounting the enclosure on an exterior surface of the pipe wall. The enclosure includes a base, side walls, and a cap. The enclosure base has a pipe-side surface that mates with the exterior surface of the pipe wall. The enclosure base and the pipe wall have substantially similar resonant frequencies and acoustic impedance. The sensor housing is adapted to be attached to the pipe wall such that the pipe-side surface of the base is mated with the exterior surface of the pipe wall. The fluid flow meter includes a plurality of ultrasonic sensors disposed within the at least one pressure vessel enclosure. Each sensor has a transmitter and a receiver.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Expro Meters, Inc.Inventors: Daniel L. Gysling, ChangJiu Dang
-
Publication number: 20130061687Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device for a portable ultrasonic flow measuring system, which measuring device comprises two sensor heads. Each of the sensor heads comprises a sensor housing on which there is provided a sensing surface intended to be placed on or against a measuring tube. An ultrasonic transceiver is provided in each sensor housing for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves through the sensing surface. Additionally, the measuring device comprises a control and evaluation device for measuring a transit time difference for ascertaining the velocity of flow of a medium flowing through a measuring tube. Provision is made for each ultrasonic transceiver in the sensor head to be disposed therein parallel to the sensing surface in the sensor housing. The invention further relates to a measuring tube adapted for use with the measuring device of the invention and an information carrier that contains information concerning the measuring tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: HYDROSONIC B.V.Inventors: Eric Rath, Walter Seybold
-
Patent number: 8348879Abstract: A surgical cassette have a rigid fluid channel formed into a rigid plastic component or housing. The piezoelectric crystals of an ultrasonic flow meter are positioned on one side of the fluid channel. The side wall of the fluid channel opposite the piezoelectric crystals is exposed to fluid in the flow channel on its interior side and is exposed to ambient air on its exterior side. The interface between the wall and the air acts as an acoustic reflector for the operation of the ultrasonic flow meter.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2006Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Shawn X. Gao, Nader Nazarifar, Cornelis J. Drost, Yuri M. Shkarlet
-
Publication number: 20120272749Abstract: An ultrasonic flow sensor for use in a fluid medium is described. The ultrasonic flow sensor includes at least two ultrasonic converters which are situated in a flow tube offset relative to one another, longitudinally with respect to a flow of the fluid medium. The ultrasonic flow sensor also includes a reflection surface, the ultrasonic converters being set up to exchange ultrasonic signals via simple reflection on the reflection surface. In addition, a deflection device is provided between the ultrasonic converters which is set up to essentially suppress parasitic ultrasonic signals, which are reflected from the reflection surface and which strike the deflection device, by deflection away from the ultrasonic converters.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2010Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventor: Tobias Lang
-
Patent number: 8293176Abstract: An example method for detecting an analyte in a sample of a bodily fluid includes the steps of exposing the bodily fluid sample to electromagnetic energy to cause a thermoelastic expansion in the analyte, and detecting a photoacoustic signal in the sample that results from the thermoelastic expansion.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2011Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: The Curators of the University of MissouriInventors: John A. Viator, Paul S. Dale, Ryan M. Weight, Peter Sutovsky
-
Patent number: 8251944Abstract: A surgical cassette have a rigid fluid channel formed into a rigid plastic component or housing. The housing serves as a substrate for an elastomeric acoustic coupling that can be formed on the housing outside of the fluid channel by an over molding process. Such a construction method eliminates the need for adhesives to attach the elastomeric acoustic coupling to the housing and ensures the removal of any air from between the elastomeric acoustic coupling and the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2006Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Mark A. Hopkins, Nader Nazarifar, Jeffrey J. Chun, David L. Williams
-
Patent number: 8239157Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed that guides a user through a sequence of steps that will allow the user to complete a predefined task using the flow meter. The steps include: selecting a predefined task, displaying a sequence of steps that directs the user through a process for using the Coriolis flow meter to complete the predefined task, and operating the Coriolis flow meter in response to the sequence of steps to complete the predefined task.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2011Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.Inventors: Craig B McAnally, Andrew T Patten, Charles P Stack, Jeffrey S Walker, Neal B Gronlie
-
Patent number: 8234933Abstract: An ultrasonic meter may include, but is not limited to, an emitter that emits a series of ultrasonic burst signals towards a fluid containing bubbles and/or particles, the series of ultrasonic burst signals being reflected by the air bubbles and/or particles in the fluid to be a series of reflected signals, a receiver that receives the series of reflected signals, and a calculator that calculates a plurality of correlation coefficients by performing a correlation processing on a series of received signals outputted from the receiver, the calculator calculating a physical quantity of the fluid based on the plurality of correlation coefficients.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Yokogawa Electric CorporationInventors: Satoshi Fukuhara, Akira Kataoka, Nobuhiro Ukezono, Kohei Izu, Kazutoshi Okamoto
-
Patent number: 8223588Abstract: An AD2CP includes at least one transducer assembly emitting sets of slanted directional acoustic beams and receiving the echoes; and electronics that processes the echoes into depth cells and computes velocity in each depth cell. The AD2CP is configured so that each beam set has a profiling catenation, at least two of which are different, and the AD2CP is configured so that the emitting, receiving and processing operate contemporaneously.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2011Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Nortek ASInventors: Atle Lohrmann, R. Lee Gordon, Sven Nylund
-
Publication number: 20120152024Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sensing fluid flow within a conduit using a Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) system. The DAS system may lower production costs and may offer some technical advantages over fiber Bragg grating (FBG)-based flowmeters such as auxiliary measurement of strain from the wellhead down to the flowmeter. The DAS system may also simplify multiplexing multiple flowmeters on a single fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventor: ESPEN S. JOHANSEN
-
Patent number: 8181536Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer for a pipe includes an ultrasonic source which produces plane waves. The transducer includes a housing having a face at least a portion of which is curved through which the plane waves produced from the source disposed in the housing are emitted and directed outward towards the pipe's interior wall so a full cross-section of the pipe's interior can be measured. A flow meter for detecting fluid flow rates in a pipe. A method for detecting fluid flow rates in a pipe.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Donald R. Augenstein, Bobbie W. Griffith
-
Patent number: 8181535Abstract: Methods of measuring flow properties and flowmeters having an upstream transceiver and a downstream wave transceiver, each positioned with a wave emitting surface exposed to a fluid flowing in a conduit are described, the transceiver being separated by a length L along the conduit and adapted to receive wave signals traveling in flow direction and opposite to the flow direction, respectively, and an electronic processor for extracting from travel time measurements of the wave signals flow characterizing parameters, the transceivers being adapted to generate tube waves, particularly in the audible frequency range, in the conduit and used to determine the travel time of the tube waves between the upstream transceiver and the downstream wave transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2008Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Songming Huang, Gary Oddie
-
Patent number: 8174930Abstract: A housing for a phased array monostatic sodar system with a transducer array that emits and receives multiple generally conical main beams of sound along different primary axes. The housing includes one or more upwardly-directed sidewalls that define a volume between them that is open to the atmosphere at the top, to emit and receive the beams, and an upper lip at the top of at least one wall, defining a curved perimeter at the top of at least some of the volume that closely conforms to the shape of at least one main beam at the location of the lip.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2008Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Second Wind Systems, Inc.Inventors: Niels LaWhite, Louis Manfredi, Walter L. Sass
-
Patent number: 8170812Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting deposit buildup within an ultrasonic flow meter are disclosed. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are ultrasonic flow meters comprising a spool piece configured to couple within a flow of fluid, a first transducer pair mechanically mounted to the spool piece and configured to fluidly couple to the flow of fluids (wherein the first transducer pair comprises an upstream transducer and a downstream transducer in operational relationship to the upstream transducer and defines a first chord there between), and electronics electrically coupled to the first transducer pair. The electronics is configured to detect deposit buildup over an inner surface of the ultrasonic flow meter.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2007Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Daniel Measurement and Control, Inc.Inventor: Henry Charles Straub, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20120055264Abstract: An apparatus and method for noninvasively detecting the presence of solid particulate matter suspended in a fluid flowing through a pipe or an oil and gas wellbore are described. Fluid flowing through a conduit containing the particulate solids is exposed to a fixed frequency (>1 MHz) of ultrasonic vibrations from a transducer attached to the outside of the pipe. The returning Doppler frequency shifted signal derived from the scattering of sound from the moving solid particles is detected by an adjacent transducer. The transmitted signal and the Doppler signal are combined to provide sensitive particulate detection. The magnitude of the signal and the Doppler frequency shift are used to determine the particle size distribution and the velocity of the particles. Measurement of the phase shift between the applied frequency and the detected Doppler shifted may be used to determine the direction of motion of the particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Applicant: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventor: Dipen N. Sinha
-
Patent number: 8125849Abstract: A system and method for measuring the flow of water in cross-section of a body of water is presented. The system and method comprises a housing having a first transducer and a plurality of second transducers, wherein the first transducer produces an acoustic signal for determining the depth of the body of water, and the second transducers each produce an acoustic signal for determining the velocity of a volume of water by measuring the Doppler frequency shift in the returned echo.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: YSI IncorporatedInventors: Ramon Cabrera, John Sloat, Steve Maier, Matthew J. Hull
-
Patent number: 8047081Abstract: An apparatus for ascertaining, and/or monitoring, volume-or mass-flow of a medium flowing through a pipeline in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pipeline. The apparatus includes: at least one ultrasonic sensor, which radiates/receives ultrasonic measuring signals at an angle of incidence/emergence into/out-of the pipeline; and a control/evaluation unit which provides, based on the ultrasonic measuring signals, information concerning volume- and/or mass-flow of the medium through the pipeline. The ultrasonic sensor includes at least one sound-producing element, a coupling shoe and a coupling adapter. The end region of the coupling adapter facing the coupling shoe has a securement mechanism for releasable securement of the coupling adapter to the coupling shoe. The end region of the coupling adapter facing the pipeline is embodied as a function of the pipeline in such a manner that it is form-fittingly securable to the pipeline.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2007Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AGInventors: Oliver Berberig, Andreas Berger, Patrick Oudoire, Achim Wiest
-
Patent number: 8036856Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically adjusting a parameter used in the display of a Doppler spectral image comprises acquiring a plurality of spectral lines of Doppler data. A subset of Doppler data is determined from the plurality of spectral lines of Doppler data. A noise characteristic of the subset of Doppler data is calculated, and a signal characteristic of the subset of Doppler data is identified. The noise and signal characteristics are compared, and a system parameter is adjusted based on a result of the comparing step.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2005Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Lihong Pan, David Thomas Dubberstein
-
Patent number: 8006570Abstract: An elastomeric acoustic coupler formed by molding a thermoplastic or silicone rubber into a recess of a surgical cassette housing. The coupling has a raised pad to aid in the removal of all air between the transducer and the fluid conduit, and to provide an efficient transmission of an ultrasound signal into the fluid conduit.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2006Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Alcon, Inc.Inventors: Nader Nazarifar, Laurens J. Drost, Yuri M. Shkarlet
-
Patent number: 7992439Abstract: An ultrasonic probe head, in particular for an ultrasonic flow meter having a housing and an ultrasonic transducer in the housing, wherein ultrasonic signals can be created and/or detected by the ultrasonic transducer and the ultrasonic signals from the ultrasonic transducer can be emitted and/or received via an ultrasonic window. A thin, relatively flexible solid interface layer is provided between the ultrasonic transducer and the ultrasonic window, the surface of the ultrasonic window having contact with the solid interface layer has a specified roughness and the ultrasonic transducer is impacted with a force, wherein the material of the solid interface layer and the ultrasonic window, the specified roughness of the surface of the ultrasonic window and the force are attuned to one another so that the solid interface layer nestles into the ultrasonic window of the housing at least also by plastic deformation.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2008Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Krohne AGInventors: Aart Jan van Bekkum, Jeoren Martin van Klooster
-
Patent number: 7987732Abstract: An ultrasonic measuring unit and a method for detecting ultrasonic signal run-times, in which the ultrasonic measuring unit has two ultrasonic transducers for coupling ultrasonic signals into a flowing medium. Analysis electronics are provided to be accommodated on or in a flow tube, in which a gaseous medium such as circulating air flows. A probe unit is accommodated in the flow tube, the probe unit being assigned a temperature probe having a flow around it, whose measured value is used for correcting a temperature signal detected by ultrasound.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2006Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Uwe Konzelmann, Tobias Lang
-
Patent number: 7968347Abstract: An example method for detecting an analyte in a sample of a bodily fluid comprises the steps of exposing the bodily fluid sample to electromagnetic energy to cause a thermoelastic expansion in the analyte, and detecting a photoacoustic signal in the sample that results from the thermoelastic expansion.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2007Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: The Curators of the University of MissouriInventors: John A. Viator, Paul S. Dale, Ryan M. Weight, Peter Sutovsky
-
Patent number: 7963176Abstract: An ultrasonic flow rate measuring device, especially a clamp-on type, is mounted on a line through which medium flows with at least one ultrasonic transducer and a guide frame for guiding and holding the ultrasonic transducer. A fixing mechanism allows the ultrasonic transducer to be moved onto the line or away from the line and also allows it to be axially moved and fixed on the guide frame or unclamped from it. The ultrasonic flow rate measuring device is able to be easily unclamped for maintenance and repair purposes and then re-attachable to the line in the original configuration.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Krohne AGInventors: Jan Pors, Jeroen v. d. Berg, Marcel Molenaar, Jankees Hogendoorn
-
Patent number: 7925456Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed that guides a user through a sequence of steps that will allow the user to complete a predefined task using the flow meter. The steps include: selecting a predefined task, displaying a sequence of steps that directs the user through a process for using the Coriolis flow meter to complete the predefined task, and operating the Coriolis flow meter in response to the sequence of steps to complete the predefined task.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2004Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.Inventors: Craig B. McAnally, Andrew T. Patten, Charles P. Stack, Jeffrey S. Walker, Neal B. Gronlie
-
Patent number: 7925457Abstract: One embodiment provides a flow meter including an airfoil movably secured in the airflow path of a fan in an electronic system. The airfoil is configured to generate a lift component in response to the airflow. A sensor engages the airfoil and generates a signal in relation to the movement of the airfoil. Airflow parameters such as volumetric airflow rate and turbulence may be identified by an analysis of the movement of the airfoil.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2008Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: James Gordon McLean, Keith Manders Campbell, Raymond Todd Greggs, Carloine Magdy Metry
-
Publication number: 20110079090Abstract: The present invention relates to a measurement insert (7) for a flow meter (1) and a flow meter. The present invention discloses using, in a customary housing (2) of a bulk water meter, e.g. a Woltman meter, instead of a device for a mechanical flow measurement a measurement insert (7) which comprises an ultrasonic measurement path (8) and can be fastened to the opening (6) of the housing (2) by means of a housing cover (9).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: HYDROMETER GMBHInventors: Harald KROEMER, Wilhelm OFELEIN
-
Publication number: 20110072909Abstract: A flow meter for measuring flow rate and flow composition of a process fluid includes a microwave source configured to generate a microwave signal. A probe tip is coupled to the microwave source and in near field proximity to the process fluid. The probe tip is configured to apply the microwave signal to the process fluid. A microwave detector coupled to the probe tip is configured to detect a near field microwave signal from the process fluid in response to the applied microwave signal. Flow calculation circuitry determines flow rate and/or composition of the process fluid as a function of the detected microwave signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2009Publication date: March 31, 2011Inventor: Fabian Wenger
-
Patent number: 7911880Abstract: An AD2CP includes at least one transducer assembly emitting sets of slanted directional acoustic beams and receiving the echoes; and electronics that processes the echoes into depth cells and computes velocity in each depth cell. The AD2CP is configured so that each beam set has a profiling catenation, at least two of which are different, and the AD2CP is configured so that the emitting, receiving and processing operate contemporaneously.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Nortek asInventors: Atle Lohrmann, R. Lee Gordon, Sven Nylund
-
Patent number: 7895903Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining at least one characteristic of a fluid flowing within a pipe is provided and includes at least one sensing device. The at least one sensing device includes a first sensor segment having a first segment polarity and being associated with a first outer portion of the pipe and a second sensor segment having a second segment polarity and being associated with a second outer portion of the pipe, wherein the first sensor segment and the second sensor segment generate sensor data responsive to the fluid flowing within the pipe. The apparatus further includes a processing device communicated with the at least one sensing device, wherein the processing device receives the sensor data and processes the sensor data to determine the at least one characteristic of the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2009Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: CiDRA Corporate Services, Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Bailey, Mark R. Fernald
-
Publication number: 20110023623Abstract: An apparatus for ascertaining, and/or monitoring, volume- or mass-flow of a medium flowing through a pipeline in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pipeline. The apparatus includes: at least one ultrasonic sensor, which radiates/receives ultrasonic measuring signals at an angle of incidence/emergence into/out-of the pipeline; and a control/evaluation unit which provides, based on the ultrasonic measuring signals, information concerning volume- and/or mass-flow of the medium through the pipeline. The ultrasonic sensor includes at least one sound-producing element, a coupling shoe and a coupling adapter. The end region of the coupling adapter facing the coupling shoe has a securement mechanism for releasable securement of the coupling adapter to the coupling shoe. The end region of the coupling adapter facing the pipeline is embodied as a function of the pipeline in such a manner that it is form-fittingly securable to the pipeline.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2007Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AGInventors: Oliver Berberig, Andreas Berger, Patrick Oudoire, Achim Wiest
-
Publication number: 20100307263Abstract: A device for sensing fluid flow within a pipe, which pipe has a pipe wall, is provided. The device includes a sensor housing and a fluid flow meter. The sensor housing includes at least one pressure vessel enclosure and hardware for mounting the enclosure on an exterior surface of the pipe wall. The enclosure includes a base, side walls, and a cap. The enclosure base has a pipe-side surface that mates with the exterior surface of the pipe wall. The enclosure base and the pipe wall have substantially similar resonant frequencies and acoustic impedance. The sensor housing is adapted to be attached to the pipe wall such that the pipe-side surface of the base is mated with the exterior surface of the pipe wall. The fluid flow meter includes a plurality of ultrasonic sensors disposed within the at least one pressure vessel enclosure. Each sensor has a transmitter and a receiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2010Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: EXPRO METERS, INC.Inventors: Daniel L. Gysling, ChangJiu Dang
-
Publication number: 20100294045Abstract: A device (10) for measuring the flow rate of a fluid flowing in a pipe, especially for a transaction between a hydrocarbon supplier and a hydrocarbon purchaser is provided. The device (10) has a cylindrical body (11) to be interposed between two sections of the pipe. Ultrasound-beam transducers (15) are mounted on the main body (11) and intended to measure at least a rate of movement of the fluid stream as this flows through the device (10). At least one converter converts the signals emitted by the transducers into a flow rate signal. The transducers (15) are mounted and uniformly distributed on two coaxial parallel rings (12, 13). The transducers (15) of a first ring (12) are angularly offset relative to the transducers of the second ring (13).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2008Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: METERING & TECHNOLOGY SASInventor: Denis Laurent
-
Patent number: 7806003Abstract: In a doppler type ultrasonic flow meter (1) for measuring the volumetric flow of a measurement object fluid (10) using doppler shift of ultrasound, a pair of ultrasonic transducers (3a, 3b) perform transmission of ultrasound and reception of an ultrasound echo resulting from the ultrasound being reflected. The ultrasonic transducers (3a, 3b) are disposed on an extension line of a measurement line ML for performing measurement of doppler shift, symmetrical about the center axis (5) of a pipe (2) with a measurement object fluid (10) flowing through its inside, and on the outside of the pipe (2). A flow profile for the side opposite, with respect to the center axis (5) of the pipe (2), the side on which the respective ultrasonic transducer (3a, 3b) is disposed is used for the calculation of the volumetric flow of the measurement object fluid (10).Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Inventors: Yoshinori Ohmuro, Toshihiro Yamamoto, Hironobu Yao
-
Patent number: 7758507Abstract: Blood-flow image display equipment for displaying a CFM image that is not affected by a motion of a tissue in an object area during capturing of images or is affected in a reduced manner.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2007Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Hideki Yoshikawa, Takashi Azuma
-
Publication number: 20100154561Abstract: A system and method for measuring the flow of water in cross-section of a body of water is presented. The system and method comprises a housing having a first transducer and a plurality of second transducers, wherein the first transducer produces an acoustic signal for determining the depth of the body of water, and the second transducers each produce an acoustic signal for determining the velocity of a volume of water by measuring the Doppler frequency shift in the returned echo.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: June 24, 2010Inventors: Ramon Cabrera, John Sloat, Steve Maier, Matthew J. Hull
-
Publication number: 20100154562Abstract: An ultrasonic meter may include, but is not limited to, an emitter that emits a series of ultrasonic burst signals towards a fluid containing bubbles and/or particles, the series of ultrasonic burst signals being reflected by the air bubbles and/or particles in the fluid to be a series of reflected signals, a receiver that receives the series of reflected signals, and a calculator that calculates a plurality of correlation coefficients by performing a correlation processing on a series of received signals outputted from the receiver, the calculator calculating a physical quantity of the fluid based on the plurality of correlation coefficients.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: Yokogawa Electric CorporationInventors: Satoshi FUKUHARA, Akira KATAOKA, Nobuhiro UKEZONO, Kohei IZU, Kazutoshi OKAMOTO
-
Patent number: 7722815Abstract: Provided is a chemical analysis apparatus comprising a mechanism which can efficiently agitate a substance to be agitated so that a sample and a reagent are agitated and mixed together in a shorter time with a saved consumption power, incorporating a plurality of sound sources or reflecting plates, and a reaction container is located between one of the sound sources and another of the sound sources or one of the reflecting plates, whereby sound waves can be irradiated toward the reaction container in several directions in order to efficiently fluidize a solution in the reaction container.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2003Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Hajime Katou, Ryo Miyake, Hiroyasu Uchida, Katsuhiro Kambara, Takenori Okusa, Shigenori Watari, Yoichiro Suzuki, Tomonori Mimura, Miki Taki, Akira Inagaki
-
Patent number: 7706986Abstract: An ultrasonic flow measuring device, which determines volume and/or mass flow of a medium in a pipeline, or in a measuring tube. The flow measuring device includes a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, which emit and/or receive ultrasonic measurement signals along defined sound paths. The control/evaluation electronics of the flow measuring device is divided into an on-site electronics, in which at least one switch is provided, via which the ultrasonic sensors, arranged in different sound paths, can be driven and/or queried, and at least one remote, control/evaluation unit, wherein the control/evaluation unit so switches the at least one switch, that the driven and/or queried, ultrasonic sensor, or the driven and/or queried pair of ultrasonic sensors, is activated and provides measured values.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2006Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AGInventors: Thomas Fröhlich, Achim Wiest, Andreas Berger, Harald Stocker, Torsten Strunz, Aurele Fleury, Oliver Berberig, Klaus Bussinger, Patrick Oudoire, Saul Jacobson, Frank Wandeler, Oliver Brumberg
-
Patent number: 7673525Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for reliable and accurate flow assurance and pipeline monitoring. More specifically but not by way of limitation, systems and methods of the present invention provide for using Doppler profiles through a pipeline section to monitor and/or measure depositing on and corrosion of a pipeline configured for flowing one or more hydrocarbons. In other embodiments of the present invention, thermal probe sensors may be used to monitor the depositing on and corrosion of the section of the pipeline. And in still further embodiments, combinations of Doppler sensors, thermal sensors and/or acoustic impedance sensors are provided with outputs from one or more of the sensors used to control one or more of the sensors or to provide for determination of flow assurance or pipeline monitoring.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2007Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Songming Huang
-
Patent number: RE43090Abstract: An improved acoustic Doppler flow measurement system which employs multiple acoustic frequencies to acquire multiple independent backscatter data from the flow channel, combining the data to enable survey measurement of channel flow properties beyond what can be achieved with either a single frequency system or multiple independent single frequency systems. The system is installed on small moving channel survey boats, remotely measuring vertical profiles of river currents, achieving accurate surveys of channel flow velocity structure and bottom topography, enabling accurate (approximately 1% resolution) survey measurement of channel flow discharge. Significant synergistic improvements are realized from both physical and functional integrations of the multi-frequency operational capability into a single integrated flow survey system. Use of phased array transducer techniques further reduces flow disturbance and transducer size, enabling use on even smaller survey boats.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2010Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Teledyne RD Instruments, Inc.Inventor: Francis D. Rowe